Force India driver Tonio Liuzzi thinks that it would be a tough ask for a female driver to succeed in Formula One due to the physical and psychological demands of the sport.

Bernie Ecclestone said that somebody like Danica Patrick would be 'a perfect advert' for the sport in a recent interview on the official F1 website. But Liuzzi thinks Patrick, who has raced mainly on Oval circuits in America, would find it hard to adapt to Formula One.

"I think it would be quite tough for the girls," Liuzzi told ESPNF1. "I think Danica could be big for publicity like she is in America but Formula One has a different objective and is a tougher challenge both physically and psychologically. To be at the top in Formula One is not as easy as people expect. I doubt it would work but Bernie has all these great ideas to showcase the business and he is the boss so you never know!"

The route into Formula One for the majority of drivers starts at the bottom rung of the ladder in karting before a hard graft through various different formulae. But with money being a big driving force, a select few enjoy an easier route in.

"I think Formula One has seen a lot of similar moves happening in the last few years, so it wouldn't surprise me."

Giovanni Amati was the last woman to appear in Formula One but failed to qualify for any of the three grands prix she entered for Brabham in 1992. Lella Lombardi was slightly more successful and started 12 races, managing a best finish of sixth at the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix.